Missoula Montana Airport to Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field MSO → MKC
972 nautical miles (1,118 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 112°, about 099° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC). Right now MSO is VFR, wind from the east (090°) at 7 knots; MKC is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 208 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the first 317 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 30 to 684 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 218 to 357 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Near the route, 426 nm along the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the last 297 nm of the route.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from MSO.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 10 forecast points nearest it (GPI, DLN, BIL, MLS, RAP, BFF, ONL, GRI, OMA, MKC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −14 kt | 16 °C | 134 kt | 7 h 15 min | 1:53 pm CDT (18:53 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 21 kt | −12 kt | 11 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 22 min | 2:00 pm CDT (19:00 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −11 kt | 6 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 25 min | 2:03 pm CDT (19:03 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −9 kt | 3 °C | 129 kt | 7 h 32 min | 2:10 pm CDT (19:10 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | −8 kt | -1 °C | 128 kt | 7 h 36 min | 2:14 pm CDT (19:14 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | −7 kt | -6 °C | 127 kt | 7 h 39 min | 2:17 pm CDT (19:17 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 220° at 27 kt | −6 kt | -10 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 43 min | 2:21 pm CDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 27 kt | −6 kt | -11 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 43 min | 2:21 pm CDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 41 kt | −6 kt | -23 °C | 126 kt | 7 h 43 min | 2:21 pm CDT (19:21 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 49 kt | −22 kt | -32 °C | 142 kt | 6 h 51 min | 1:29 pm CDT (18:29 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 53 kt | −25 kt | -37 °C | 145 kt | 6 h 42 min | 1:20 pm CDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 55 kt | −27 kt | -46 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 37 min | 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPI | used from 0 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 090/8 -4° | 140/7 -7° | 090/10 -8° | 110/10 -19° | 210/25 -30° | 200/24 -40° | 210/31 -39° | 210/35 -42° | |
| DLN | used from 50 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° | ||
| BIL | used from 149 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 300/14 | 270/19 -2° | 260/26 -2° | 220/28 -13° | 210/51 -25° | 220/56 -33° | 220/61 -39° | 220/72 -45° | |
| MLS | used from 347 nm out; 126 nm from the line | 290/17 -1° | 250/18 0° | 230/25 0° | 220/31 -11° | 220/32 -24° | 220/50 -32° | 220/60 -38° | 230/71 -46° | |
| RAP | used from 397 nm out; 85 nm from the line | 250/28 16° | 260/31 10° | 240/25 4° | 210/35 -10° | 200/45 -23° | 230/47 -31° | 230/47 -36° | 230/51 -46° | |
| BFF | used from 545 nm out; 86 nm from the line | 280/28 | 260/39 11° | 240/34 5° | 210/38 -11° | 210/52 -22° | 230/61 -31° | 230/61 -36° | 240/56 -45° | |
| ONL | used from 595 nm out; 107 nm from the line | 250/31 22° | 230/27 16° | 220/25 8° | 230/25 -9° | 220/29 -22° | 250/42 -33° | 250/48 -36° | 250/52 -46° | |
| GRI | used from 694 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 843 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| MKC | used from 892 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSO Missoula, MT | departure | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,500 feet, overcast at 11,000 feet | from the east (090°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 6,500 ft | 3,205 ft | 4:53 am MDT (10:53 UTC) |
| HLN Helena, MT | 89 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,300 feet, a broken layer at 2,900 feet, overcast at 4,400 feet | from the west (270°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 3,877 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| BZN Bozeman, MT | 139 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a few clouds at 1,200 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 2,300 ft | 4,473 ft | 11:24 UTC |
| RED Red Lodge, MT | 228 nm out, 15 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 5,762 ft | ||||
| SHR Sheridan, WY | 327 nm out, 6 nm north of the line | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 14 knots, gusting to 22 | 10+ mi | 900 ft | 4,021 ft | 11:11 UTC |
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 446 nm out, 12 nm northeast of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 3 knots | 0.75 mi | 200 ft | 4,177 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| GRN Gordon, NE | 565 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (070°) at 3 knots | 5 mi | 300 ft | 3,562 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| TIF Thedford, NE | 654 nm out, 8 nm southwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: fog | from the north (360°) at 4 knots | 0.5 mi | 300 ft | 2,925 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| GRI Grand Island, NE | 763 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,847 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| AUH Aurora, NE | 783 nm out, 1 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,803 ft | 11:15 UTC |
| STJ St Joseph, MO | 942 nm out, 24 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 826 ft | 10:53 UTC |
| MKC Kansas City, MO | destination | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 5:54 am CDT (10:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,762 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MKC when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:15 pm CDT (18:15 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for MKC
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 16 knots, gusting to 28, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 11 knots, gusting to 19, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Tue 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for MSO, the departure
- From Mon 6:00 am MDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the east at 2 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, a broken layer at 4,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 10,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8927 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZSE
- 6/8923 Kalispell, MT, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 through Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local on the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLC
Daylight
Sunset at MSO 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC), at MKC 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:11 pm CDT (00:11 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Missoula Montana Airport, Kansas City Downtown/Wheeler Field.